HFTP® Acquires Leading Hospitality Industry Brands: Hospitality Upgrade, Hotel-Online, The CIO Summit and The Executive Vendor Summit
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals | June 25th, 2024
Smartconcierge Ivy® Selected for 2019 HEDNA’s Innov8 on Jan 30
January 24, 2019
Hoteliers will learn the power of AI to enhance guest experiences, increase upservice revenues, reduce staff disruptions and to quantify it all with Ivy SANTA MONICA, CA (JANUARY 24, 2019) – Go Moment®, the world's leading provider of real-time artificial intelligence guest communication solutions for the hospitality industry – its smartconcierge, Ivy® – today announced that company CEO Raj Singh will be presenting Ivy's technology at the 2019 HEDNA "Connected Like Never Before" Global Distribution Conference in Los Angeles. Singh will be showcasing Ivy's role in the evolving guest service eco-system during HED...
Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group Set to Open New 128-Room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Denver West Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorad
Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver West Federal Center | January 24, 2019
Lakewood, CO – January 24, 2019 – The 128-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Lakewood, Colorado is set to open on Thursday, January 31, 2019. Located at 140 South Union Boulevard, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver West Federal Center will operate as a Marriott franchise, developed by DCC who is the managing partner of the ownership entity, LD Lakewood Lodging, LLC and managed by Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group of Provo, Utah. Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and 10 minutes from downtown Denver, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver West Federal Center offers guests convenient access to the D...
Rainmaker Selects OTA Insight As Strategic Partner for Rate Intelligence
OTA Insight | January 24, 2019
Top hospitality technology platforms join forces to offer market-leading rate intelligence solution LONDON and ALPHARETTA, GA – Jan. 24 2019 – OTA Insight, the cloud-based data intelligence platform for the hospitality industry, and The Rainmaker Group, a leading provider of cloud-based hospitality revenue and profit optimization software, today announced a new strategic partnership. Rainmaker's decision to partner with OTA Insight was made in order to empower their customers with the industry's leading rate shopping and market intelligence provider, Rate Insight. Through this partnership, OTA Insight will offer Rainmaker's ...
Jay Virk & Choice Hotels Enter Multi-Unit Agreement to Develop 15 New-Construction Midscale Hotels
Choice Hotels | January 23, 2019
ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 23, 2019 -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has signed an agreement with Jay Virk to develop 15 new-construction midscale hotels in the Western region of the U.S. through 2026. Five Sleep Inn hotels and five dual-brand Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites properties will be built across California and Arizona: Sleep Inn hotels: Elk Grove, Manteca, Three Rivers, Turlock, and Watsonville, Calif. Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites dual-brand locations: Phoenix; Merced, Palmdale, Palm Desert, and Porterville, Calif. "Our decades of midscale expertise and proven brands continue to attract developers coast to c...
TripAdvisor Reveals America’s Best Hotels With 2019 Travelers’ Choice Awards
TripAdvisor | January 23, 2019
Charleston's French Quarter Inn is the #1 Hotel in the U.S.; Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica is World's Top Overall NEEDHAM, Mass., Jan. 23, 2019 -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site, today announced the winners of its Travelers' Choice® awards for Hotels. Travelers' Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. In the 17th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has recognized 7,812 properties in 94 countries and eight regions worldwide in the categories of Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, Bargai...
2019 Hotel Trends: The Power of Personalization and Building Personal Connections
Benoit Jolin | January 23, 2019
By Benoit Jolin January 2019 What happened to brand loyalty? Today's consumers have been trained to research products and prices, read reviews and make educated and discerning purchase decisions. To reach and engage customers in 2019, and to appeal to their personal needs, companies need to deeply understand what today's consumers value most. This is especially true in travel – because experiences have taken priority over possessions as a path to happiness and fulfillment. Personalization has become the "new thing" to drive traveler satisfaction, and machine learning (ML) is the powerful and positive disruptor in the hospitality i...
JW Marriott Debuts in Northeast China With the Opening of JW Marriott Hotel Harbin River North
JW Marriott | January 23, 2019
JW Marriott, part of Marriott International, Inc., today announced the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Harbin River North. Situated in the heart of the bustling Harbin Songbei district, the hotel marks an exciting milestone for the brand as the first JW Marriott property in Northeast China. JW Marriott Hotel Harbin River North introduces an elevated standard of luxury into the city's vibrant business center, which features a myriad of celebrated tourist attractions including Jinhewan Wetland Park, Harbin Ice-Snow World, Siberian Tiger Park, the Harbin Grand Theatre and more. Inspired by the dynamic destination and the culture of Northeaste...
Hospitality’s Marketing Gurus Honored at HSMAI Adrian Awards
HSMAI | January 23, 2019
(McLean, VA, January 23, 2019) Excitement was in the air as the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) hosted its annual Adrian Awards Dinner Reception and Gala honoring excellence in travel advertising, digital marketing, and public relations. More than 850 industry professionals gathered at the New York Marriott Marquis to celebrate the standout campaigns of the past year and the awesome individuals behind them. "We received a lot of impressive entries this year, but tonight's winners are truly the crème de la crème," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "Adrian Award-...
Vietnam Hospitality Market: 2018 Overview and 2019 Outlook
Savills Vietnam | January 23, 2019
OVERVIEW 2018 2018 has been an excellent year for Vietnam Real Estate market with positive signs coming from all sectors, among which hospitality stands out as one of the main sectors drawing enormous attention from international and local developers and investors. The market has exhibited many projects that are being planned, developed, and opened with the presence of new brands and products. Demand also experienced a remarkable growth of 21% in international tourist arrivals (within 11 months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017), which is slightly lower than that of last year but still considered impressive when compared to ot...
Tourism Tidbits: Confronting the World’s Changing Economic Times
Dr. Peter Tarlow | January 23, 2019
By Dr. Peter Tarlow January 2019 Perhaps Charles Dickens said it best when he stated that we live in the best and worst of times. There is little doubt that the tourism industry is facing some interesting and challenging times. Its transportation component has to deal with the irregular and hard to predict cost of fuel, both in the form of gasoline and jet plane fuel, but also the fact that antiquated air systems combined with a major decline in customer service have made millions of travelers understand why the we derive the word "travel" from the French word "travail" meaning (hard) work. To add to the industry's challenges in 2018 we...
When Does the Guest Experience Start?
Vertical Booking | January 23, 2019
By Mark Lewis-Brown, President & CEO of Vertical Booking USA Think back to your last trip and the happiness, excitement and anticipation that you felt about it… Now think about when those happy feelings started. Was it as you sat at the airport, waiting for your flight? Or was it the moment that you landed on the tarmac in your destination? Or was it when you arrived at your hotel, credit card in hand, ready to check-in to your room? Or, maybe, was it the minute that you decided to take a trip… even before you decided where you'd go… or when you'd go on the trip… or what you'd do while you were there? ...
Drawbacks to Outsourcing Your Hotel Labor Force
Larry Mogelonsky | January 23, 2019
By Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng. (www.hotelmogel.com) The growing prevalence of outsourced labor within the frontline ranks of many guest-facing departments may have deep-rooted consequences that aren't immediately discernable on a balance sheet. Whether your property is thinking of contracting out its valets, bellhops, restaurant servers, banqueting staff or housekeepers, what we stand to lose may be far greater than any apparent cost savings or reductions in employee benefit packages. While the two abovementioned advantages of outsourcing are indeed quite lucrative – and not to mention the overall decrease in risk involved with...
HVS Market Pulse: Bend, Oregon
Breanna Smith | January 23, 2019
By Breanna Smith and Kirsten Z. Smiley Bend is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon, situated along the Deschutes River. The city is a top leisure destination, known for its scenic setting near the Cascade Mountain Range and its year-round recreational opportunities. At an elevation of 3,625 feet, Bend enjoys the predominately dry climate of the Great Basin, characterized by sunny days, cool nights, and low humidity. In 2017, the United States Census Bureau reported that the Bend-Redmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was among the fifteen fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. In addition to tourism, t...
Atlantica Hotels Agreement With Hilton to Expand the DoubleTree Brand in Brazil
DoubleTree by Hilton | January 23, 2019
MCLEAN, Va. and SÃO PAULO – January 23, 2019 – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Atlantica Hotels today announced the signing of a management license agreement whereby Atlantica plans to develop and manage DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in Brazil. As part of this agreement, the companies also announced the first planned DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This agreement will introduce DoubleTree by Hilton in Brazil, underscoring Hilton's continued commitment in the Caribbean and Latin America to introduce the company's industry-leading brands across the region. "Through our partnership with Atlantica Hotels, we...
Courtyard Hotel to Open in Alpharetta, Georgia
The Sage Agency | January 23, 2019
Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta/Avalon Area is scheduled to open its doors in Alpharetta, Georgia this Friday, January 25, 2019. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard's latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Developed and owned by Hotel Development Partners, LLC and its partner Alex.Brown Realty, Inc., the 115-room hotel located at 11700 Amber Park Drive will operate as a Marriott franchise. The hotel will be managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the ...
Sustainability in The Hotel World – an Easy Task Or Continuous Compromising?
Valpas Enterprises | January 23, 2019
We all know that hospitality industry has a significant impact on the environment due to its high water consumption as well as hotels' use of consumable goods and energy. Eco-consciousness is on the rise in the hospitality industry but making big environmentally friendly changes might be a more difficult task as one might think thanks to guests' expectations. When we go to a hotel we usually expect it to be nicer than our home. We secretly make assumptions: there must be a huge garden, an infinity pool and a fireplace, otherwise we'll be slightly disappointed. At the same time sustainability is on the top of our priorities. We favor sus...
ALICE Celebrated As the #1 Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech 2019
ALICE | January 22, 2019
ALICE is excited to share we have been named 2019's #1 Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech by Hotel Tech Report. HTR surveys thousands of hotel tech employees around the world about what it's like inside the operations of the industry's greatest technology companies, and topping this list is truly an honor and a testament to our commitment to our people. With a #3 ranking in 2018, ALICE is thrilled to have jumped to the top spot in 2019. In the past year, ALICE has grown rapidly, recently surpassing the 100-employee threshold, and expecting to hit 150 global team members by the end of 2019. Throughout this growth, we've been able to create...
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Adds The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark to Its Operating Portfolio
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, | January 22, 2019
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2019 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has added The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark(www.thekartrite.com) to its expanding Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brand operating portfolio. Located in Monticello, in New York's Catskill Mountains, the new property will open in March 2019 on 1,600 wooded acres, the site of the Resorts World Catskills entertainment complex. The new luxury hotel will include a state-of-the-art, two-acre indoor waterpark with activities and amenities geared to family fun. The hotel and indoor waterpark will also feature multiple dining options, a rel...
IHG Signs With B&G Estate Co., Ltd. for New-Build voco™ in Bangkok, Thailand Marking Brand First in South East Asia
January 22, 2019
Less than a year since the brand launch, IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a management agreement with B&G Estate Co., Ltd. for a new-build voco™ in Bangkok, Thailand — the first to be announced in South East Asia. When it opens in 2021 voco Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 will offer 300 guest rooms in the heart of Bangkok's lively Sukhumvit area. Guests will be able to choose from a rich array of food and entertainment options at their doorstep, while enjoying easy access to the city's other offerings via the Nana BTS station conveniently located nearby. Unveiled last June, voco — inspired by the meaning 't...
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Reveals the 7th Annual Pebby Award Nominations
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust | January 22, 2019
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--January 22, 2019-- Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) (the "Company") today announced the nominations for its Seventh Annual Pebby Awards. The Pebby Award nominees were chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in 2018, as determined by the Company. The Academy's nominations are notably diverse and naturally more competitive given the large increase in candidates. Nonetheless, several hotels earned multiple nominations; Hotel Zeppelin San Francisco and Hotel Zelos San Francisco both earned six nominations, Hotel Zetta San Francisco earned five, and Union Station Hotel Nashville, Autograph Collection and LaPlaya Na...
HVS Market Pulse: Greater Fort Myers, FL
Brad Hoban | January 22, 2019
By Brad Hoban The greater Fort Myers market thrives on tourism given its resorts and beaches, as well as its other opportunities for leisure-related activities, such as fishing, golfing, and shopping, to name a few; moreover, the city hosts Spring Training for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins clubs, attracting fans to the area. Aside from tourism, the economic base is diverse in this market, including employers in the fields of healthcare, government, education, retail, and computer science. Fort Myers is also home to numerous colleges and universities, including Edison State College, Florida Gulf Coast Uni...
Tackle Guest Experience Like a Pro, This Super Bowl
Divya Bhat | January 22, 2019
By Divya Bhat With Aerosmith, Ludacris, Cardi B, Maroon 5 and the likes setting the scene, the city of Atlanta is all set to host the Super Bowl 2019. This is the third time that Atlanta will be hosting the mega sporting event, after 1994 and 2000. This obviously comes as great news (with its own set of challenges) to all hoteliers in and around the city. In fact, most accommodation options almost always sell out months in advance when it comes to Super Bowls! But is that all there is for hoteliers to cash in on? We think not. Assuming that you've hit jackpot just because you are sold out for the Super Bowl season is a big mistake. Gett...
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Chosen as Operator of 116-Room DoubleTree by Hilton Vail, Colorado
Hospitality Ventures Management Group | January 22, 2019
ATLANTA, Ga, (January 22, 2019) —Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, has announced it has taken over management of the 116-room DoubleTree by Hilton Vail, Colorado. The hotel marks the company's 20th hotel addition in 2018 resulting in a record growth year. "With the exciting addition of the DoubleTree by Hilton Vail, HVMG's portfolio grew more than 50 percent in 2018," said Robert Cole, president & CEO, HVMG. "With our depth and expertise operating upper upscale, destination properties and resorts, we are well equipped to quickly improve t...
Beekeeper Vying to Be Named Hospitality’s Hottest Technology at ALIS 2019
Beekeeper | January 22, 2019
Operational communication platform improving hotels' bottom lines, reducing employee turnover, and helping hoteliers to better compete in the digital age San Francisco, Jan. 22, 2019 — When you're hailed as a "Top Rated Operations Product of 2019" for employee engagement and the technology is designed by a company ranked among the "Top 10 Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech 2019," then it's logical to be spotlighted during the highly anticipated America's Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). Next week, Beekeeper will be one of five companies vying for the "Hottest Technology 2019" title during "The New ALIS Tech Challenge: What's Hot i...
